Thousands of people are set to descend on Accrington this weekend for the town’s flourishing food and drink festival.

Organisers said the event will be the ‘biggest the town has ever seen’ with lots of activities for families, young children and adults during the day.

Celebrity chef Richard Fox will cook a speciality pizza using local ingredients including Accrington Pals Beer – specially brewed in commemoration of the heroic First World War regiment - and Lancashire cheese from the local food market.

Richard said: “This is a really fun and tasty dish to make and with such great local produce the end result will be amazing.”

Cath Holmes, chairwoman of Accrington Pals Centenary Commemorative Fund, said: “We created these beers as a way to commemorate the brave soldiers who lost their lives protecting our country, so I think using the beer in this dish is a fantastic and unique way to enjoy our special product.”

It is one of a number of war-themed activities being held around the town centre with a war re-enactment being held in the grounds of St James’ Church, an Abbott Self-Propelled Gun tank on show outside the Town Hall and Pegasus Bridge Airborne Replica Jeep on display inside the Arndale Centre.

Live cookery demonstrations will be held at 10am and 3pm where Richard will give a modern twist to a forgotten family favourite - tripe - with help from Storage Hunters TV show presenter Jesse McClure.

There will be dozens of food stalls at the Town Hall and along Broadway, a ‘Dig for Victory’ attraction with raised beds of flowers, herbs and vegetables and a children’s cake decorating competition inside the Market hall.

Organisers Scott Dawson Advertising said: “The Accrington Food and Drink Festival is aiming to be the biggest the town has ever seen, showcasing the finest of the area’s produce as well as bringing new and exotic foods from across the UK.

“From cheeses to chocolates, pies to patisserie and sausages to stout, there will be no shortage of treats to try.”

The festival is free and will run from 9am to 4pm.

Visitors can also be collected in a pair of vintage buses from designated points around Hyndburn and dropped off for free in the town centre.

The first pick-ups are from 9am and the last are at 12.25pm.

To book a place call 01282 426846 and visit www.accringtonfoodfestival.co.uk/free-buses/